WRITING a story in just 300 words is much harder than it sounds, but this was the challenge Wokingham Writers set its members.
Award-winning writer of short stories and historical fiction, Alice Fowler, judged their entries, choosing three.
The third and final story Wokingham.Today is pleased to publish, is by overall winner of the competition, David Palin.
David is the author of several published novels, dark psychological and historical thrillers, the publication of which has led to interviews on BBC Radio and in the local media.
He is intrigued by the things that hide, often in plain sight, in the shadows beyond the light of our everyday lives.
As well as editing and co-writing for various authors, he has run writers’ workshops in as diverse places as Berkshire literary festivals and the far north-west of Scotland.
Story three: Echoes Of The Past
He brandished the essay with clenched fingers.
“Echoes of the past!? Tautology, boy! There are no echoes of the future.
You’ll be discussing past history next!”
He looked around the classroom, “All of you need to pay attention if you hope to get anywhere.”
He remembered a fiery, red-headed Scottish teacher warning him, he would come down on him like a ton of bricks – for grinning!
It had worked!
Ninety percent in his first-year French exam…and look at him now – a teacher himself.
On reflection, was that truly the ultimate; giving everything you had, till you knew no more than your students?
Yet was not the imparting of knowledge a joy; like offering tea and biscuits – depending on the biscuits, of course?
He scanned the room, filled with faces that would never age – and they would never forget him, one way or another!
Perhaps at some nostalgic school reunion, they would all be friends; the boys now men and, maybe, wiser. Some of that would be down to him.
The rumbling excavator interrupted his imaginings – the future echoing after all?
Retirement had been tough – those years of loss – but hearing that his old college was being demolished to make way for flats had been too much.
Like a disobedient schoolboy, he’d sneaked in, ignoring the No Entry – Danger of Death signs.
Decades there as master and pupil.
Sadness beyond words, even for a former English teacher!
The aged wooden desks, with inkwells – to be crushed with everything else.
You couldn’t recycle what they had witnessed. Absorbed.
Letting the ghostly essay papers fall, he took in the emptiness.
As the excavator crunched, the Scottish teacher’s words echoed – “I’ll come doon on ye like a ton o’ bricks.”
Better than silence from the future.
He settled in his seat.
Wokingham Writers group meets at Wokingham Library on the third Saturday of each month from 10am until midday.
Membership is free.
For information, email: keith@writerman.org.uk, call: 01189 781368, or visit:
